Mercedes SLK World banner
HPL
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

The Hairdresser’s Car Thing

Jump to Latest
1.6K views 63 replies 37 participants last post by  Rick_In_Tas  
#1 ·
Right, owning up to something. Every SLK owner has had it at some point. The raised eyebrow, the “ah, the hairdresser’s car,” and almost always from someone who has never actually driven one.

I used to half-mind it. I don’t any more. Folding metal roof, a willing little engine, a sense of occasion that costs nothing and asks only that you point it somewhere good. I walked past a hotel car park full of black SUVs recently and got into my twenty-year-old SLK, and nobody looked twice, which I’ve decided is rather the point.

Esse quam videri. To be, rather than to seem.

So I’m curious where everyone else lands. Do you still get the comments? Did they ever actually bother you? And did owning one change how much you cared what anyone thought of it?

(I ended up writing the whole thing out properly if anyone fancies the longer read, but mostly I just want to know I’m not the only one who’s made his peace with the reputation.)
 
2006 Mercedes SLK200 owns
2006 Mercedes SLK200
#2 ·
With the SLK you know you have hit the point when other MB drivers look at your car wistfully.
They may have a million BHP available but you have something they haven't got, even at 20 years old people still look at your car and nobody sees theirs!
Me, I don't care what anybody thinks, in fact, I like that I can still be different.
I don't suppose it'll be my forever car (we are both too old) but what would I replace it with that gives me the same sense of self?
Failing all that perhaps I'm still a poser 😇
 
J
#3 ·
AlMac74 said:
Right, owning up to something. Every SLK owner has had it at some point. The raised eyebrow, the “ah, the hairdresser’s car,” and almost always from someone who has never actually driven one.
Click to expand...
I think that's mostly an Anglo-Saxon thing. I never had "the raised eyebrow"... except from little children seeing how my Autobot comes to live when the roof goes down... but those are raised eyebrows of genuine astounded delight!
 
#9 · (Edited)
Admittedly, the SLK frequently doesn't get the cred it deserves, long since out of production a shrinking audience even knows what it is. Real car people appreciate it, and respect the AMGs.
Ours got tons of complements and people asking what the car was, the SLK32 schooled quite a few that underestimated it.
Every car is a compromise, and the SLK was sports minded, but not hard edged sports car, it is a balance of comfort, handling, lightness, and simplicity (except the roof function). It is neither an SL nor a Lotus, it is in between.

SLK trivia.
Designed by Bruno Sacco and Michael Mauer, the car had a genuine pedigree.
(Michael Mauer is the current design lead at Porsche)
One of the car magazines referred to the SLK as the rich man's Miata. Which is somewhat accurate.

Marketing gaffes, such as sharing the chassis with the Crossfire and the MB merger with Chrysler tainted the car in period. In the later years, MB let the model drift without needed refinements, while Porshe sold 718s like crazy.

Mercedes was well aware of the chick car stigma. And, MB wanted more male buyers, as that is who generally buys sports cars, so the car was restyled to appear more to the male buyer.

The R170 sold to the market as about 60% male, 40% female, largely due to the smoother lines and retro look
The R171 update copied design cues from the SLR McLaren, then garnered about 50% male, 50% female. (ratio went backwards!) MB still wasn't satisfied, and further refined for the more aggressive look of the R172.
The R172 then sold about 60% male, 40% female.

For those who want the convertible function the options are few.
BMW is currently discontinuing the Z4 (2026 is last year)
Boxter ended in 2025.
SLK ended in 2016 (SLC in 2020)
Miata is about the last affordable convertible.
Corvettes, and a few supercars have the convertible or removable roof.

My SLK replacement gives up the convertible function for other benefits.
It is a 2025 718 Cayman (got one of the last new ones), and the refinement, handling and chassis rigidity are absolutely amazing. Miss my SLK, but the 718 is a fine machine that provides a supreme fun factor, just in different ways.

718 Cayman is 10-15% female buyers, although women almost always complement the car.

R
 
S
#14 ·
Been thinking how to reply about one point you made her...Crossfire
I really like mine but wish I had known about the SRT6
It is a leader in it's own right.
Avery awesome ride
 
  • Like
Reactions: SLK32Rick
Save
Like Like
#15 ·
The crossfire was cool in its own right.

However, having a connection between the SLK and crossfire was not a good marketing decision.
It is a market confusion of both brands.
Mercedes eventually figured this out and separated from Chrysler, as it wasn't really a synergistic combination.

A modern day equivalent is Stellantis previous plan to use STLA large in Alfa Romeo - which is an absurd combination and contrary to what Alfa represents (Alfa isn't GT large cars)
Some of these corporate mashups just don't follow the brand or lineage very well.
 
R
#16 ·
Yeah, my late brother used this when I got mine. It was just his way of putting me down, something he had always done since we were kids

Forehead Jaw Facial expression White-collar worker Internet meme


Oh, I hope you don't mind but "Esse quam videri" actually translates as "To be, rather than to be seen." Videri is the same root as video, "I see". Taught by the best agents of punishment in the business. "Sorry, Brother Paul" :oops:
 
#19 ·
Rick_In_Tas said:
Yeah, my late brother used this when I got mine. It was just his way of putting me down, something he had always done since we were kids

View attachment 666437

Oh, I hope you don't mind but "Esse quam videri" actually translates as "To be, rather than to be seen." Videri is the same root as video, "I see". Taught by the best agents of punishment in the business. "Sorry, Brother Paul" :oops:
Click to expand...
I don’t mind at all! I knew that, it was the headline I used here but I used it correctly in the original piece in the sub-headline: Doing Rather Than Being Seen
 
R
#20 ·
Another great piece that reflects my own feelings, Al.

Although the SLK still attracts attention. One of the reasons I like my boxy, plain Subaru Forester is that it's invisible. It doesn't stand out in a crowd. It doesn't draw attention to itself. For when the occasion calls for the job to be done rather than shown off. The SLK hasn't quite got to that point in this small, insular community where it still looks young and attractive.
 
#22 ·
Rick_In_Tas said:
Another great piece that reflects my own feelings, Al.

Although the SLK still attracts attention. One of the reasons I like my boxy, plain Subaru Forester is that it's invisible. It doesn't stand out in a crowd. It doesn't draw attention to itself. For when the occasion calls for the job to be done rather than shown off. The SLK hasn't quite got to that point in this small, insular community where it still looks young and attractive.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for saying so, Rick. Much appreciated. I love the Forester. My brother in-law had one. Quite rare here, in the UK, but really cool and practical. I think the same thing with my Mercedes W210. Not too many of them around because they rusted out or were not as seen to be as pretty as the W124z Just a comfortable cruiser of a car. I think the SLK is becoming more into its own but I’m happy to just enjoy it.
 
#21 ·
My SLK gets many complements all the time. Stopped at a light, pedestrians say "hi, good looking car". Driving still puts a smile on my face. Weather looking bad, just put up the hardtop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlMac74, Windinmyhair and slk55amgbob
Save
Like Like
#23 ·
Almac I have the same wonderful feeling when I get behind the wheel of my 98 slk230 kompressor! A blast to drive handles like a dream not a sleeper many people saying I really like your car. At the gas pump not really caring about the cost of premium fuel. Because I get to drive a couple of hundred miles if I want. It's clean at 63000 miles and easy to keep up! My very first convertible! A long time ago I saw one and I couldn't believe what I just saw? The top folding into the trunk! 46000 bought one and I just said one day. I finally got the chance last year and found one I bought it on the spot! I now see it every morning in my garage and get to drive it anywhere I want to go. I hope other folks who had that same feeling get to buy their dream....
 
#24 ·
What a great fun discussion everyone. I’ve really enjoyed reading your comments. I’ve had my SLK 230 for three years now and it mostly flies under the radar. Prior to that I had a Datsun roadster 1965 FairLady and it turned heads wherever I went. I’m still in the Datsun club (as a social member) and what really turns heads is the press of the button to fold the roof while everyone else struggles with their canvas! As well as that I have a truely weather proof roof (good for southern Australia) a/c, ABS, power steering etc etc. you know the deal. I’m really enjoying a fun sporty (comfortable) ride.
 
A
#28 ·
This was much the same car I tried to live with as my only car.
Car Land vehicle Vehicle Automotive lighting Motor vehicle


A real beauty car but not practical as an every day drive with its wide doors in parking lots, to go get a larger item or in some cases not enough trunk room. Going out with family and friends obviously meant two cars.
So we have this as well to provide common sense daily driving.
Motor vehicle Automotive Exterior Alloy wheel Automotive Wheel System Spoke

SUVs do have their place.
 
A
#30 ·
I was talking with a young sharp tech a few months back about Model Tesla's I ran into on the road up and commented on how fast they are off the line. His comment was they run out of legs because they lose torque the faster they go where SLK55s particularly P30s just keep pulling.
His words; not mine but I like how he thinks. 🤣 🤔
 
#31 ·
My jet black, ceramic coated 1999 USA SLK still catches an eye. Especially with an all black custom license plate as a punctuation. “WCARMA”. The most fun was with some kids who were ogling it, and I said “Do you want to see the machine guns? They looked at me like James Bond and I pushed the lights washer and out popped two rods to spray the lights. I think they are still scarred😀. Fun car With the top down and the music up.
 
#32 ·
Proud owner of an SLK55. If anyone makes the hairdresser comment, I would just smile and say, yes, if you drive this car the way it's intended, you will need a hairdresser later on :)

As others have said, too many people just parrot back what presenters of a certain british automobile show would have said back in its heyday, although ironically the most bombastic presenter apparently liked the slk55.
 
M
#33 ·
I only get "hey, cool roadster/what is that car!" to "that is a classic!" (Porche owner)...and the dopes that want to race lol. My wife thinks it's a 'chick magnet'...literaly, I hear people when I get out of it :"cool ride"...
 
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.

Is this your car?

Your experience is better when members know exactly what vehicle you drive

Save and join 89K members
Log in with Google button Log in with Google Log in with OpenPass
Mercedes SLK World
posts
1.4M
members
89K
Since
2006
A forum community dedicated to Mercedes SLK owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about your R170/R171/R172 SLK, or AMG performance, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
New Member Introductions R171-SLK General Discussion R170-SLK General Discussion R172-SLK/SLC General Discussion General SLK/SLC Discussions